The sudden influx of e-cigarettes in the market overwhelmed the United States Food and Drug Administration as these are not yet regulated. According to a new study, this device which is usually used to help taper or stop smoking, is being used by more teens to smoke marijuana or cannabis.
Researchers from Yale University surveyed a total of 3,847 Connecticut high school students about their drug and e-cigarette use. They found out that 5.5% have used the device to vaporize cannabis. In total, 29.2% have tried to smoke marijuana or hashish in some form, reports Yahoo News.
Ironically, they discovered that the rate of which these teens use e-cigs for marijuana use is 27 times higher than the adult rate. "This is a relatively novel way of using marijuana, and kids are using it at a fairly high rate," reports lead author Meghan E. Morean, now an assistant professor of psychology at Oberlin College, OH.
Usually, e-cigs works by vaporizing a solution of nicotine and vape juice is widely used to help smokers quit. However, since it is not regulated and there is easy access of purchase online, more teens are being able to acquire these devices.
At present, the number of high school students using e-cigarettes tripled from the report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2013. There is an estimated 2 million students who are using e-cigs, Medical News Today reports.
"These findings raise concerns about the lack of e-cigarette regulations and the potential use of e-cigarettes for purposes other than vaping nicotine," the researchers conclude.
There were many debates among health experts regarding the pros and cons of using e-cigs. Some say that it could lead to the lessened use of tobacco among individuals while others say that it could be a gateway for people including kids to use tobacco.
Health experts suggest that for those who do not smoke, they should never try vaping because it will introduce nicotine in the body. This may lead to the urge to smoke tobacco. If the person is smoking and wants to quit, there are other means which were approved safe by the FDA.
